As the haze returns in Asia, Thomas Powell asks what else is up in the air. The exhibition looks at a feeling most of us now share: that the state of things, from the climate to politics to the economy, is uncertain. We have unprecedented access to knowledge, energy, technology and collective power, yet the systems controlling those resources remain driven by competition, greed and nationalism. Through original works and installations, Powell traces his own search for meaning, mapping a constellation of patterns and behaviours.
The show moves in three directions. It opens under blue skies, where objects loaded with cultural, social and political meaning float untethered among clouds. A series of works inspired by Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ brings us back to earth, recalling scenes playing out today where those who speak up for human and environmental rights find themselves targeted. It ends on a satirical beach, where a skeleton basks under a blazing sun in limited edition apparel, available exclusively at Cultprint, surrounded by fire extinguishers and jerry cans with nothing left to protect.
“I’m not predicting collapse,” Powell says. “I’m wondering whether a period of unusual weather is a useful reminder to become a little more prepared, a little less wasteful, and a little more connected to the systems that keep us comfortable.”
Nothing in the exhibition claims to know how this ends. Everything is still up in the air.
Opening Weekend
Private View: 16 October 2026, 5pm (by invitation only)
Walkthrough with Thomas Powell: 17 October 2026, 2pm & 4pm (RSVP required) [RSVP link]
DON’T PANIC! Opening Party: 17 October 2026, 8pm till midnight
Exhibition Hours
17 October to 6 December 2026
Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm to 7pm
Cultprint, 35 Lebuh Melayu, George Town, Penang